Still With You [A Jikook Fanfiction ©️ Book 2]

An Important Message from the Author

Hi. If you don't know me by now, or haven't met me before: I'm Misty. 

I've been thinking for a while about adding this to the end of Book 2 as some of the themes within this book are incredibly deep and I'd like to get a message in about that. 

For the past month I've been heavily involved in dealing with a sexual assault case that occurred at the end of 2019 and while I was writing these scenes with Ji-Seok and Jimin, without comparing the inner detail of the scenes, I realised afterwards, that the overall idea was incredibly familiar. 

This assault case with Jimin and Ji-Seok is an incredibly complex one and I don't mean due to the nature of their jobs or who they are. What I mean is: At the time of the assault, Ji-Seok did not explicitly know he was, nor did he deliberately intend to assault Jimin. 

However, despite this apparent unknowing: it's still assault. 

When I first wrote this, I didn't think Ji-Seok was assaulting Jimin - I knew what I wrote was him being unjust and eventually yes, horrifically not consensual. But what I didn't say in my head was: it was assault. 

I even had Jimin insist to the police that it was all consensual and at the time I think I just wanted to tone down the idea of including r*pe within the book. But, now I realise it was actually myself as the author repressing the understanding of this very real case that has taken place in my own life. 

Now I look back with a new perspective and I can't currently read my own work, because it is far too familiar.

With this in mind, I have a message for you all. 

If you are not comfortable. If you don't explicitly say yes. If you're only doing it to please, or because you got pressured, or if it was done with the expectation that you always consent to them:

This can be put under assault. 

Even if you said yes, in some contexts, this can still be assault.  (Please message me if you don't understand why.)

Of course in some contexts such as very long-term relationships there can be exceptions but this is drawn from a mutual trust and wholehearted understanding of each other. 

If there is no trust, no understanding and you aren't comfortable. It does not have to be 'full on' sex. Assault and harassment can be a hand up a shirt or a flirtatious comment. 

Please understand this because here is a direct, prime example of someone repressing the realisation that a situation was assault because they compared it with r*pe cases and tried to simply push it into the back of their mind as if it didn't happen. 

Even if the thought of possibly having a situation where assault has occurred rises into your mind, that is good enough reason to go and talk to someone. 

Talking to someone, even a friend, can help put situations into another perspective and if necessary, kick-start the process of dealing with the situation and healing. 

It is nothing to be ashamed about. You are not weak. You are not vulnerable or worthless. I've had these words drilled into my head many times by my friends and yet still I return to this belief. I'm pretty sure by now they have a paragraph of reassurance copied and memorized onto their keypads in the case these thoughts start whirling again.

But I tell you with incredible insistence that THIS IS NOT TRUE. Do not be ashamed, or feel as if you are weak or worthless. You are an incredible person and it was not your fault. 

I only have UK helplines that I can send to you or place here. If you are from another country and know of any other helplines, please put these in the comment box here >>>>

(If you want to comment on other things please don't comment on that sentence so we can make sure only the helplines are visible ^^)

Childline: https://www.childline.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

MIND: https://www.mind.org.uk/

Crisis Line: Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 or 'YOUNG MINDS' to the same number. 

999/your emergency service number. 

SLaM (NHS 24hr mental health crisis line): 0800 731 2864 or 111

PAPYRUS UK (anyone under 35): 0800 068 4141 or search their website. 

Please message if you have any questions or want to DM. 

(Please remember however, even though I am a trained First Aider, activist and a uni psychology student, I am not a doctor, clinician or a therapist. I am just a friend with experience.)

Misty x